How do you actually shop local in New York City?

Shopping local ensures a future for cultures and communities, says Caroline Weaver, creator of the Locavore Guide digital directory When I signed the lease for my new apartment in Brooklyn, the relief of having survived the brutal New York City real estate market was short-lived when my next task became clear: I needed to furnish the place. My first instinct was to check everything off my list by shopping online. But the thought of waiting for deliveries and unboxing an endless mountain of packages seemed exhausting. And, I was moving to New York, where the streets are lined with a seemingly infinite number of stores. Continue reading...

Gaya Gupta · Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 5:00 AM
US news | The Guardian

How do you actually shop local in New York City?

Shopping local ensures a future for cultures and communities, says Caroline Weaver, creator of the Locavore Guide digital directory

When I signed the lease for my new apartment in Brooklyn, the relief of having survived the brutal New York City real estate market was short-lived when my next task became clear: I needed to furnish the place.

My first instinct was to check everything off my list by shopping online. But the thought of waiting for deliveries and unboxing an endless mountain of packages seemed exhausting. And, I was moving to New York, where the streets are lined with a seemingly infinite number of stores.

This page shows an excerpt; reporting belongs to the original publisher. Some images or embeds may be omitted compared with the live article.